Paul’s Post-Conversion Life

¹⁹ “Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, ²⁰ but ^(A)declared first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem, and throughout all the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent, turn to God, and do ^(B)works befitting repentance. ²¹ For these reasons the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me. ²² Therefore, having obtained help from God, to this day I stand, witnessing both to small and great, saying no other things than those ^(C)which the prophets and ^(D)Moses said would come— ^23 (E)that the Christ would suffer, ^(F)that He would be the first to rise from the dead, and ^(G)would proclaim light to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles.”

Agrippa Parries Paul’s Challenge

²⁴ Now as he thus made his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, “Paul, ^(H)you are beside yourself! Much learning is driving you mad!”

²⁵ But he said, “I am not ^[a]mad, most noble Festus, but speak the words of truth and reason. ²⁶ For the king, before whom I also speak freely, ^(I)knows these things; for I am convinced that none of these things escapes his attention, since this thing was not done in a corner. ²⁷ King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you do believe.”

²⁸ Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You almost persuade me to become a Christian.”

¹⁵ But the Lord said to him, “Go, for ^(A)he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before ^(B)Gentiles, ^(C)kings, and the ^(D)children^[a] of Israel.

Suffering for Christ

²² Are they ^(A)Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? So am I. ²³ Are they ministers of Christ?—I speak as a fool—I am more: ^(B)in labors more abundant, ^(C)in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, ^(D)in deaths often. ²⁴ From the Jews five times I received ^(E)forty ^(F)stripes minus one. ²⁵ Three times I was ^(G)beaten with rods; ^(H)once I was stoned; three times I ^(I)was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; ²⁶ in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, ^(J)in perils of my own countrymen, ^(K)in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; ²⁷ in weariness and toil, ^(L)in sleeplessness often, ^(M)in hunger and thirst, in ^(N)fastings often, in cold and nakedness— ²⁸ besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: ^(O)my deep concern for all the churches.